Identify the nucleophilic centers in the following molecules:

Question

1)

2)

3)

Answer 1

Nucleophilic centers are areas attracted to nuclei which are positively charged. This mean nucleophilic centers have a full or partial negative charge.

In the first molecule, boron and phosphorus are less electronegative than hydrogen. So, the hydrogen atom draws electron density away from these atoms which gives them a partial positive charge making them electrophilic. Carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen, so it draws electron density away from the hydrogens giving it a partial negative charge which makes those two regions nucleophilic.